One of the best parts of the RV lifestyle is having your home on the road with you. Because of this, your backyard is constantly changing, as are the breathtaking landscapes, which encourage you to get outside and enjoy each location as much as possible.

Sprucing up your patio space not only invites you outside every evening, but it makes you want to stay there longer. Imagine a crackling campfire, a cozy drink in hand, and scenic views surrounding you on all sides. However, there is one addition that could take the whole experience up a notch – let’s shed some light on seven charming patio lighting ideas for your RV.

Edison String Lights

Glamping with the Rollin Boles. Image by Camping World.

They’re probably one of the first things to come to mind when someone mentions patio lights, but Edison String Lights are popular for a reason. They’re classic and nostalgic without being dated or out-of-style. The retro-inspired Edison bulb gives a nod to the first light bulbs created by Thomas Edison and their glow provides a soft, cozy vibe to your patio.

Perfect for stringing from tree to tree to illuminate small areas of your yard, these string lights can also be hung from your RV awning. If you really want to get festive, you could opt to use color-changing Edison lights instead. Sit back and watch while the bulbs slowly transition from one color to another and transform your RV patio into an instant party.

DIY Branch Chandelier

For a rustic outdoor patio lighting idea, try creating a chandelier from branches and string lights. Gather some branches – the longer, the better – and form any shape you’d like. Then, secure them with fishing line or twine.

Where else can visitors get an up-close look at a collapsed volcano, fish and swim in the nation’s deepest lake, and hike on a cinder cone in the volcano’s caldera? 

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon protects that very location and gives travelers the opportunity to see the world’s purest body of water and absorb its magical environment. Many days, the clarity of the water grants viewers a perfect reflection of the sky above.

Standing on the rim of this ancient caldera, travelers are given an enchanted view. The park’s many outdoor adventures offer opportunities for you and your family to make new memories that will last a lifetime.

Why Visit Crater Lake National Park in Your RV?

Photo Credit: Epmatsw

A visit to Crater Lake National Park is reminiscent of childhood fairy tales with magical vistas, villainous volcanoes, and happily-ever-after endings. What began as a scenic mountainous landscape suddenly became roiled with volcanic explosions about 7,700 years ago, settling into the breathtaking panoramas we see today.

Just imagine summer days hiking in the forests and mountains around Crater Lake, taking a tour to Wizard Island, and then coming home to your motorhome for a freshly prepared dinner and s’mores by the fire. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Prince Edward Island is a favorite destination for RVers from across North America. Located on the east coast of Canada, Prince Edward Island is known for its natural beauty, miles of sandy shoreline and delectable culinary scene. This is the place for an adventure-filled vacation or a relaxing retreat at a slower pace.

The Island, as it is affectionately named, always leaves a big impression on visitors. Its size and shape mean you can plan your tour to begin at one entry point and end at another. Arrive via the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick anytime or sail with Northumberland Ferries from Nova Scotia across the Northumberland Strait from May to December.

Prince Edward Island has so much to offer RV vacation enthusiasts, including eight provincial campgrounds. Brudenell River Provincial Park is the largest campground in the eastern region, with scheduled children’s programming each day as well as a marina and river beach for all ages to enjoy. Horseback riding, kayaks and paddleboards are available for a fee on the premises. Within walking distance is a resort with two championship 18-hole golf courses and a spa.

Also in the east, Red Point Provincial Park offers a supervised beach nestled on the Northumberland Strait and only 10 minutes to the seaside town of Souris. Local beaches are well known for digging clams and beachcombing for sea glass.

Centered around a glistening 60-acre lake, Otter Lake Resort is a 300-acre getaway located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, just 10 miles from the Delaware Water Gap, Interstate 80 and Stroudsburg. We offer easy access from both Interstate highways 80 and 84, yet with all the seclusion and quiet of a remote Pennsylvania camping retreat. Probably the best part of camping at Otter Lake is our direct proximity to so many of the most popular Pocono attractions, many only minutes away!  We are family-oriented, meaning we have something for all ages and interests.

Otter Lake Resort Offers Many Features and Amenities

Otter Lake Resort’s sandy beach offers a swimming area and a place to play in the sand. We offer rowboat, canoe and paddleboat rentals. Otter Lake provides a great fishing experience. We sit close to many hiking trails for the enjoyment of the area’s magnificence. Pavilions are available for group events.

There is also an outside pool with a grassy lawn for sunning, a diving area with a diving board, a slide and a separately enclosed kiddie pool. Our new attraction is a splash park for children. And if that’s not good enough, we have a heated indoor pool open all year, a sauna and two whirlpools!

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Traveling by RV on the highways and byways is a great way to see the country. The sense of freedom and beauty of the scenery makes this the only way to go. But if your route requires traversing a major metro area, that freewheeling feeling may disappear. City driving in an RV poses several challenges, especially if you’re driving through a large downtown city core.

Some travelers might say that they never route through large cities, opting to circumnavigate big towns by using ring roads or other bypasses. But the fact is that several major attractions — from sports stadiums to renowned museums — lie within major cities. The same goes for some Good Sam Parks, which give RVers the advantage of staying close to metro attractions. Although some of these sites are close to major highways and interstates, RVers still have to navigate the dense urban traffic to reach these destinations.

Wrong Way

In addition, drivers can inadvertently end up in downtown centers. It can happen if you miss a turn, get rerouted because of an accident, receive inaccurate directions from your GPS or pass through the city because it’s the only route. I can speak from firsthand knowledge. I ended up in downtown San Francisco after missing a single lane offramp with a sign displaying, “G.G.B.” I also have been routed through Chicago’s core. Once, I squeezed my way through the narrow streets of Old Quebec City, thankfully with a 96-inch-wide motorhome instead of today’s standard 102-inch vehicle. And there’s always the possibility of a technical issue — say, a flat tire — that forces a driver to pull off in a big town. Believe me, it can happen.

Twists in Big Towns

So, let’s look at some of the challenges that drivers face in cities and cover some of the skills and best practices needed for a trouble-free trip.

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It’s time to update the old bucket list. Whether you write a physical version on paper, update an app on your phone, or keep one floating around in your head, a running list of things to do and see keeps us excited and motivated to keep exploring

The United States isn’t short on beautiful destinations, but there are a few exceptional places well worth the trip. Among them are natural hot springs.

Regardless of the season or the reason you’re traveling, be it a romantic getaway or a relaxing solo retreat, you can find hot springs throughout the country to take a dip in while enjoying scenic surrounds. To make your trip easier to plan, we’ve rounded up four awesome campgrounds located near hot springs.

Cloud Nine RV Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Image: Shutterstock

While there aren’t any outdoors hot springs available for soaking in at the Hot Springs National Park, there are bathhouses that allow you to feel the geothermal waters on your skin. With 43 natural springs, this area is highly sought after for its healing waters. There are approximately 26 miles of trails throughout the park that lead over Hot Springs Mountain that make the trip more than just a dip in the springs.

At Cloud Nine RV Park, RV enthusiasts can enjoy full hook-ups and extra-wide sites with both free WiFi and cable TV. The prime location of this campground puts you in the middle of Arkansas with convenient access to the hot springs nearby. Leashed pets are also allowed, so your furry family members can tag along. There’s a designated pet walk area to ensure your four-legged friends have just as much fun as you do during their stay.

While you might like to unplug in states with the best boondocking spots, it pays to stay connected on the road and at your camping destinations. To do so effectively, you need to know how to get better TV reception in your RV. 

Choosing the right satellite TV antenna plays a big role in getting better TV reception, but there are a number of choices you can make to improve reception with the equipment you have. In this guide, you’ll learn the various ways to watch TV in your RV and some basic tips to improve reception when you’re tuning into over-the-air TV channels. 

How to Watch TV in your RV

There are four basic options for tuning into digital entertainment in your RV: satellite antennas, over-the-air digital television antennas, cable hookups, and streaming services. Depending on where you travel and how much you’re willing to pay for various services, you can use a combination of these options to expand your entertainment choices. 

Streaming Services for RVers

Photo by rafapress via Shutterstock

With streaming services like Netflix, Sling, and Hulu, reception quality largely depends on the strength of your internet connection. Weaker connections will prompt more buffering, for example. The trouble is that you’ll have minimal control over Wi-Fi signal strengths provided at luxury RV resorts and other campgrounds. 

But if you rely on a mobile hotspot, you can employ a signal booster to improve the strength of your connection. When you arrive at a new destination, you can always perform an internet speed test to examine signal strength. 

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Camping cuisine is more than just gooey s’mores and blackened hot dogs. In fact, the campfire can be used for cozy drinks and main dishes, like soup, that can fill you up and warm you up all at the same time. What is the best way to make soup over a campfire? – a Dutch oven.

Not sure what to make? Below are seven of our favorite campfire soups to make in your Dutch oven. Second helpings are not only allowed but encouraged. Warm up while you’re winter camping with recipes you’ll be excited to make by the fire.

How to Cook in a Dutch Oven

Before you get the fire going, it’s worth mentioning a few simple tips to cooking in a Dutch oven that will have you feeling like a chef in no time.

Since Dutch ovens are made from cast iron, nothing will melt or warp while cooking over a flame or hot coals. A Dutch oven is heavy-duty and fire-resistant making it an ideal choice for cooking over a campfire. Though you can line your cast iron dutch oven with tin foil for easy cleanup, one of the best parts of cooking with cast iron is the “seasoning,” obtained from cooking recipe after recipe. No, we’re not talking salt and pepper. Cast iron infuses more flavor into your cooking the more you use it. Learn how to season cast iron and you’ll find your dutch oven will easily become a treasured family heirloom. The more you use it, the better it is.

Bionca and Carter cook over a fire almost everywhere they go.

The key to dutch oven cooking is a steady campfire or hot coals. Start by learning how to build a proper campfire. On a cold camping day, you’ll enjoy staying close to the fire and keeping it fed. Your reward?– a hearty, flavorful soup to keep you warm.

Take a memorable Valentine’s Day road trip. The second month of the year is a great time to fall in love with RV travel. The following locations will make you get back in touch with your passion for hitting the road.

North Carolina

Nothing could be finer than a trip to the Tarheel States sweetest attractions.

Escape to the Great Smoky Mountains

See our Regional Travel Calendar for more year-round destinations.

Take a romantic escape into the mountains. Hikers can follow hundreds of miles of trails, like the four-mile Appalachian Trail to the Charlies Bunion route for jaw-dropping mountain views, the two-mile Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Loop Trail to explore old-growth forests, and nine-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail for exceptional wildlife viewing. There are more than 100 scenic waterfalls in the Smokies, from the elegant Grotto Falls to the 100-foot-high Ramsey Cascade.

With so many campground locations, it’s easy to find a tranquil spot to get back to basics and revisit the simplicity of nature. Once you set up camp, you’ll soon realize that birdcalls, meandering trails and lazy afternoons are welcome distractions from everyday life. Read on and discover strategies to picking the perfect campsite in Colorado.

There are thousands of campsites in Colorado’s state park and public land systems and hundreds more private sites. You simply need to find the part of the state you want to visit, choose a site with the amenities you need and make a reservation.

Colorado State Parks Camping

Forty-two parks with amenities all over the state are administered by Colorado Parks & Wildlife. The system boasts more than 4,000 campsites. Amenities at many parks include visitor centers, reservoirs, restrooms, full electrical hookups and shower facilities. Some even have laundry facilities and playgrounds. Yurts and cabins available for rent offer comfortable, year-round alternatives to traditional camping.

Federal Lands

The US Forest Service manages 14 million acres of land in the state’s 11 National Forests and two National Grasslands, while the Bureau of Land Management oversees an additional 8.4 million acres. Both agencies have campsites that range from developed areas with restrooms, fire rings, water and other amenities to remote areas, with no amenities, that are reached only by horse, mountain bike or backpacking. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov.

For many RV travelers, a new year brings dreams of buying a new vehicle. And folks who are in the market for a Class A motorhome must decide between two types: diesel pushers and gas-powered vehicles.

The diesel RV features an engine mounted at the rear of the vehicle (hence the term, “pusher”). Gas-powered vehicles are powered by engines more conventionally placed in the front. Gas-powered Class A coaches are limited in overall length of about 38 feet while diesel pushers are made up to 45 feet.

For many new to Class A motorhome travel, one question often comes up: Why are diesel motorhomes so much more costly than their gas-powered cousins? Indeed, the difference is quite dramatic: Pusher prices can exceed their gas-powered counterparts by $100,000 and more. How can you justify such a huge gap? After all, a combustion engine burning diesel fuel cannot cost that much more than a gas unit, right?

Well, the engine difference is not the only big-dollar item here. The fact is, they are totally different vehicles.

Rain Spirit RV Resort, new in 2019, is located in Clarkdale, Arizona. The big-rig-friendly resort has 63 full-hookup sites, back-ins and pull-throughs, with paved roads and compacted gravel sites. Enjoy the centrally located pool and spa, rec room with library lounge, fitness center, private tiled shower rooms, laundry facilities and enclosed dog run. Rain Spirit RV Resort overlooks the Verde River and has views all around of beautiful mountain ranges as well as Sedona and Sycamore Canyon red rock formations.

Historic Clarkdale and Outdoor Fun

Clarkdale is a well-preserved and historic turn-of-the-century mining town, just a few miles away. The town boasts the largest copper museum in the Grand Canyon State. Also near the RV park are hiking and mountain bike trails along the river as well as hundreds of miles of ATV and jeep trails. The Verde River also is easily accessible for fishing, bird watching, swimming and kayaking. There is a 3-mile stretch of river for kayaking rapids with a launch park upriver and a pick-up site just below the park.

From the river overlook to toward the east, the Tuzigoot National Monument can be seen in the near distance. It is a large, 1,200-year-old Sinaguan pueblo, semi-restored with tours and a gift shop. Adding to the appeal, Rain Spirit RV Resort is located away from light or noise pollution, which makes for a restful experience after a busy day enjoying the area. Don’t forget the Verde Canyon Railroad round-trip excursion that starts in Clarkdale and runs along the river. Guests can enjoy spectacular views while wining and dining in classic custom rail cars.

One of the biggest challenges for beginner RVers is acquiring the right vehicle to tow a camper. If you have a minivan at home in the driveway, you’d be surprised how many light camper trailers might meet your towing needs.

Use Camping World’s simple Tow Calculator to find what your minivan or vehicle can tow with just a few clicks.

No need to search for a new vehicle or say farewell to your road trip dreams. Minivan Camping is a great way to get the family outdoors together. Small travel trailers may not fit the whole family, but combining a small camper with tent camping can make for a fun and comfortable trip for everyone.

Can Your Minivan Tow a Camper Trailer?

Before diving into the best camper trailers for you and your family, you must consider how much your minivan can tow. As with anything, it’s best to learn the flexibility and limits of your particular minivan before hitting the road.

A few tips for you to keep in mind when it comes to towing and your minivan:

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It should come as no surprise that people who are full-timing in their RVs aren’t choosing to do so just in retirement, but instead, they’re hitting the road full-time as a lifestyle. While that choice may not be one everyone is willing to make at this time, there are a lot of other lessons to be learned from the lifestyle, such as getting out of debt and being more minimalistic overall.

Why Downsize?

Sorting through your camping gear can be fun and rewarding.

Downsizing forces you to take a hard, honest look at your possessions. What do you have that you want versus what do you have that you actually need? Eliminating the excess allows you to truly enjoy the things you care about the most. In a world obsessed with consumerism, it can be refreshing to pair down your belongings to only the essentials. Plus, when you’re living the RV lifestyle, space is often more valuable than anything else.

Benefits of Downsizing

Organize only the essentials, donate or discard the rest.

When it comes to the benefits of downsizing, many will be surprised to know how it ripples through their entire life. Downsizing benefits you in more ways than simply having less stuff. In fact, when people choose to downsize their way of living they often discover they’ve upgraded their lifestyle.

A few benefits include:

Less clutterIncreased cash flowGreater flexibility time-wiseLess responsibilityReduced stress

These tips on how to downsize for the RV lifestyle can help you out even if you’re just a weekend warrior looking to bring less with you when off the beaten path, or if you’re planning on making the jump to full-time life on the open road.

During winter, southern Utah’s famed red rock country becomes a land of contrasts as the vermillion cliffs, hoodoos and colorful monoliths get dusted with stark white snow. In this desert winter wonderland, visitors can enjoy some of the most pristine landscapes in the country without overwhelming crowds that flood the parks the majority of the year. Find solace on the trails, drive roads that are usually closed to private vehicles and take advantage of the off-peak prices. However, exploring in winter comes with its own share of challenges; park services are limited, not all sites are accessible and temperatures can get frigid. Before you set off on your adventure, be mindful of the weather forecast; pack plenty of layers and winter hiking gear, and research road conditions to ensure your trip is fun and safe.

Zion National Park

Considered one of the most majestic national parks in the nation, Zion’s most prominent feature is Zion Canyon, nearly 15-miles long and up to 2,640-feet deep. One of its less attractive features is the crowds, as it’s the third most visited National Park in the country. To beat the 20,000-per-day summer visitors, head to Zion during the winter, where you’ll find plenty of solitude while out on the trails. The other bonus about visiting between December and February is the fact that you can drive to almost all of the trailheads along Zion Scenic Drive, which is closed to private vehicles and only accessed by shuttle buses the majority of the year.

Though evenings are chilly, daytime temps hover in the 50s, providing comfortable weather for strenuous hikes. Luckily, Zion Canyon’s low elevation means snow rarely makes it to the floor, and if it does, it quickly melts. However, on the peaks and higher elevations, expect snow and ice.

Lake Powell

It took me a long time to purchase an ice fishing flasher because I thought they were way more complicated than they are. The good news is, they’re actually simpler to use than a fish finder in a lot of ways. You just need to understand what the various colors and dials mean.

In this guide, I am breaking down all the finer details of ice fishing flashers so you can understand if buying one for your ice fishing trips is the right choice.

What is an Ice Fishing Flasher?

Ice fishing flashers can be difficult to understand. When I first looked at one, I thought they looked like some type of engineering device or something used to read the water quality. In reality, once you understand what every little dial and color means, they’re actually quite simple to use.

An ice fishing flasher is a piece of fishing technology designed to help you identify fishing opportunities beneath the ice. Using the flasher, you can figure out where the fish are, where the bottom is, what the total depth is and what type of structure or vegetation is scattered throughout the water.